Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Strange to believe, but the NBA Draft is just three weeks away. What once seemed like it was ages away is now quickly approaching. Without further ado, here is the latest mock draft round up and which each of the sites has the Utah Jazz taking.

While Draft guru Chad Ford has not updated his Mock Draft 6.0 in the past two weeks, Jeff Goodman has. Goodman has the Jazz going with Julius Randle at #5 over Noah Vonleh, citing the assumption that Randle has the ability to “bring a toughness and physical presence from the outset” and that he “could coexist with guys such as Derrick Favorsand/or Enes Kanter up front.” At #23, UCLA’s Kyle Anderson is the pick, explaining how he would help Trey Burke facilitate the offense.

Ford did update his Big Board 11.0 (Insider) and inserted a few Utah Jazz mentions:

He said he doesn’t see guard Dante Exum getting past Utah at #5.

According to Ford, #5 is also forward Aaron Gordon’s ceiling.

He feels guard Zach LaVine’s range ends with the Jazz’s #23 pick.

Utah is a “real option'” for Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis with its second first-round pick.

In a scenario (which has gained more steam with his positive workouts), many prognosticators see the Orlando Magic opting for guard Marcus Smart, someone they were rumored to love in the 2013 Draft before he withdrew. Mannix is among that group, as he sees Orlando going with the fiery player at #4. This is something Utah fans would love to see realized, as it would obviously mean one of the top four prospects would drop to #5. In this mock, Mannix has Exum coming to Utah, calling him “a great consolation prize” for missing out on Jabari Parker. He also adds that a “Burke-Exum backcourt could become a dynamic duo.” Cleathony Early is Mannix’s pick at #23, saying he could be a steal should he prove to play small forward at the NBA level.

This particular mock brings in an interesting mix of players to the Jazz: #5 forward Noah Vonleh, #23 forward Adreian Payne and #35 KJ McDaniels. This trio would add a great deal of shooting, athleticism and basketball talent. Vonleh is a guy who is wowing NBA scouts and front offices with his workouts. Should Utah be unable to move up or should none of that much-touted quartet fall, Vonleh seems to have the most upside. Payne and McDaniels would be steals should they drop to the Jazz’s latter two picks.

Gary Parish, Zach Harper and Matt Moore provide their updates, along with a look into the second round. Parish predicts Vonleh, McDaniels and Burke’s college teammate Mitch McGary. Harper goes with Randle, Early and Serbian swingman Bogdan Bogdanovic. Both fun scenarios to ponder, but it’s Moore’s that sticks out. He sees Vonleh moving up the ranks to #3, thus allowing Jabari Parker to slide to #5. Add in guards Elfrid Payton and Jordan Clarkson and Utah fans would be celebrating Christmas in June. Plausible? Not very likely. Still enjoyable to think about, at least momentarily.

Another that has remained static. Marc Spears thinks Aaron Gordon and Kyle Anderson would add versatility to Utah’s roster.

Basketball Insiders Mock Draft (updated 06.04)

Basketball Insiders offers a four-f0r-one mock deal, bringing predictions from four of their writers. Alex Kennedy, Joel Bingham, Steve Kyler and Yannis Koutroupis vary between Randle, Gordon and Smart with the fifth pick and three of the four see Jerami Grant being Utah’s guy with the 23rd. Names like Spencer Dinwiddie, Glenn Robinson and Johnny O’Bryant are the choices in the second round.

How would Jazz faithful feel about a draft that netted Exum, Swiss big man Clint Capela and guard Joe Harris? That what this site has occurring. Capela is an intriguing player who possesses great potential and upside. It does not hurt that he and Rudy Gobert are friends.

Another mock thinking Vonleh and McDaniels are Salt Lake City-bound. Those seem to be very popular choices of late.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Utah Jazz fans are still trying to put everything together after last evening’s disappointment. Even though the mathematical probabilities were difficult to ignore, watching the team settle in at the fifth slot was a big let-down in what many view as a four-player draft, as it relates to potential franchise players. It is clear to say that the Cleveland Cavaliers put a damper on things for many fan bases, including Utah’s.

If anything, the day after the Lottery produces a slew of more logical, more thought-out mock drafts. Here is the round-up for the Utah Jazz, with the knowledge that the team will be selecting at picks #5, #23 and #35.

Chad Ford said it best when he said “Jazz fans have to be devastated” due to “zero chance of landing Jabari Parker here.” It is an unenviable position, that’s for sure. With the #5 pick, Ford is going with Indiana’s Noah Vonleh, the best player available. Vonleh’s mix of rebounding, defense and stretch shooting ability could all be enticing to Utah. A 7’4″ wingspan could add some wiry length. While it naturally would create some positional logjam, getting the best value is essential for a team in need of so much help across the board (ESPN’s Amin Elhassan wisely said as much in his Draft Guide article for the Jazz (Insider)).

K.J. McDaniels from Clemson is the prediction at #23. Ford says the “athletic forward” could bring “defensive toughness.” He also says that “many scouts feel he’s one of the most underrated players in the draft–someone who’s a jump shot away from being a dominant wing.” Sounds like a solid find late in the first-round.

Marc Spears does fine work and this is his first attempt at prognosticating the draft. He sees Arizona’s Aaron Gordon at #5 and UCLA’s Kyle Anderson at #23. That would bring a pair of versatile forwards into the mix. Gordon’s athletic numbers at the NBA Combine were stellar. His defensive abilities could be elite on the big stage and beyond that, he can pass and rebound with the best. Gordon’s shooting is his downfall, but perhaps it’s something that could be worked on with the proper help. If so, he has all the tools to be an amazing all-around player.

Anderson has got to be one of this year’s most interesting players. With his blend of ball-handling and passing skills, along with his size at the small forward position, he could be an ideal guy off the bench. His speed and pedestrian athleticism are where teams” concerns arise.

Givony thinks Marcus Smart is Utah’s guy at #5. Smart’s Combine numbers were extremely unique, thanks to his strong 6’3″, 227 lb frame. He sports a 6’9″ wingspan, so defensively, he could check players at both back court positions. Smart brings an energy and attitude that can light a fire under a team. While he has had issues, he could be a leader the team needs. How he would play alongside Trey Burke and Alec Burks would be the question.

Draft Express also has Anderson with the second first-round pick. Baylor center Isaiah Austin comes in at #35. At 7’1″, he brings size and shot-blocking. Austin is blind in his right eye, from a middle school injury. He has Utah ties, as Ike Austin is his uncle.

Here’s the run-down: Parrish picks Vonleh and McDaniels, Harper, Julius Randle and Cleanthony Early, and Moore opts with Vonleh and Bosnian center Jusuf Nurkic. Randle is a scorer who rebounds and passes well for a big. His defensive abilities and his lack of elite height are the downsides. Early would be a great pick at that spot, as he too can do a lot of different things. Nurkic would add another big man at 6’11”, 280 lbs. Some sites are very high on his potential due to his mobility and nice touch around the basket.

Vonleh is tabbed at #5, ahead of both Randle and Smart. 7’0″ big Kristaps Porzingis comes in at #23. Just 18 years old, he would add another project alongside Rudy Gobert. Porzingis has good size and agility and can stick the jumper. He would need to bulk up. With #35, Bleacher Report has Utah once again going overseas with swingman Bogdan Bogdanovic from Serbia. He’s another jack-of-all-trades who does a lot of things great, with few things extremely well.

This mock goes with #5 Randle, #23 guard C.J. Wilcox from Washington and #35 combo guard Spencer Dinwiddie out of Colorado. Wilcox, who hails from Pleasant Grove, UT, would add some much-needed shooting, as he shot over 39 percent from long-distance and is excellent from the free throw line. Dinwiddie is tall and slight of frame, but loves to push the ball. He can get to the basket and is solid from the perimeter.

Last, but not least, this site predicts Randle, Early and guard Markel Brown as being Utah-bound. Brown was Smart’s Oklahoma State teammate whose calling card is his athleticism.

Some side notes in parting: with such a young core, it seems very likely that the Jazz will not use all three of their draft picks. Or perhaps they use one or two on draft-and-stash prospects. With Raul Neto, bringing four rookies into a youthful mix might not be the route to pursue at this juncture.

Likewise, it would not surprise to see Utah move up–perhaps in the teens–for someone it has its eye on. Guys like Doug McDermott, Gary Harris, Nik Stauskas, Dario Saric and Tyler Ennis would make some sense, as could a number of other players. As evidenced last year with trades for Burke, Gobert and Neto, the Jazz are willing to move up to get the guy. That said, moving up from #5 will be another story. The asking price is going to be steep and while the Jazz have a cadre of assets, it might be an uphill battle to make something happen.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

The week has finally arrived–the NBA Draft Lottery will take place on Tuesday, May 20th. It is naturally an event that Utah Jazz fans are eagerly awaiting, for the outcome could have profound impact on the franchise from both a short-term and a long-term perspective.

Furthermore, the NBA Draft Combine is this week. With all this in mind, it is apropos to take another look at the various mock drafts out there. Once the official order in place, these mocks will occur more frequently and will factor in team needs more fully. And while they are some experts’ best guesses (some have better intel than others, clearly), they are still fun to review.

Side note: This is already proving to be an active offseason for the Jazz, as they brought in 12 prospects last week and by all accounts, will bring in a further slew of players–much like they did last year. Dennis Lindsey’s mindset is to conduct as many of these workouts/interviews as possible, both for the Draft and for the future. It could also help the team know if and when to make any draft day maneuvers.

ESPN’s Draft Coverage (updated 04.22)

ESPN’s draft coverage is among the best out there. Chad Ford and company are putting out a lot of content and that will only increase these next few weeks. In his Mock Draft 4.0 (Insider), Ford has the Jazz getting center Joel Embiid out of Kansas. This is under the scenario where the Orlando Magic opt with Dante Exum at #3. Embiid has tremendous upside and would add to the defensive foundation Utah brass hopes to form, alongside Derrick Favors. Ford says that the Jazz love Jabari Parker, but will have to win one of the top two spots to secure him. He also says that in this situation, Utah could look to trade Enes Kanter, citing the contract Gordon Hayward may get this offseason.

With the 23rd pick, Ford goes with 6’3″ point guard Elfrid Payton, saying his size, length and athleticism could be a nice complement to Trey Burke. He is Ford’s “sleeper of the draft.” This particular mock would be a very good draw for the Jazz.

Team needs are now being taken into consideration in this iteration. In this mock, the Jazz would be obtaining Exum at #4, 7’0″ Kristaps Porzingis at #23 and small forward Glenn Robinson at #35. This would infuse the roster with more scoring and athletic talent. Much is being said about Exum. He is someone that is intriguing a lot of front offices, potentially including Utah’s. Porzingis is a less-known prospect, but seems to possess mobility and ability on both ends of the court. He is just 18 years old, but has been playing professionally for a few years. Robinson would team up once again with his college teammate, Burke.

This one is more a head-scratcher as it prognosticates the Jazz going with forward Julius Randle at #4, with Exum still being on the board. Randle is a fine player, but may be a curious front court fit next to Favors or Kanter. They have forward Cleanthony Early at #23 and KJ McDaniels at #35.

This has three mock drafts together. Zach Harper’s, last updated 03.25, has the Jazz getting Jabari Parker at #4 and shooting guard Jordan Adams out of UCLA at #23. It would be a complete shocker to see Parker last until #4, but Jazz fans would probably not argue one bit. Matt Moore updated his on 04.18, predicting the Jazz would get Embiid and center Jusuf Nurkic from Bosnia.

Lastly, Gary Parrish thinks Utah would take Randle at #4 (ahead of Exum, Noah Vonleh and Aaron Gordon) and guard Mario Hezonja from Croatia at #23.

Sean Deveney sees the Jazz going with Exum with their first pick, while also saying the Jazz would ideally like to “jump high enough to select a dynamic small forward like [Andrew] Wiggins.” If the team stays put, though, Exum would clearly be the best player available. At #23, he has UCLA’s jack-of-all-trades Kyle Anderson. That would be a nice find at that juncture in the Draft.

Here is another mock that has Embiid slipping to #4, perhaps due to his injuries late in the season. PJ Hairston from North Carolina and DeAndre Daniels are the other two picks.

We’ll aim to take another look next week after the Lottery has taken place–stay tuned.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Hard to believe, but seven games remain in the 2013-2014 season. The time flies by when you’re having… well, when the time flies by. In seriousness, while there have been some struggles, there are a lot of positives from this season–despite what Frank Isola may think. There are some solid young players, incredible financial flexibility and three very good picks in the upcoming Draft. As things stand, the Jazz are currently in line for picks #4, #23 and #34.

With this in mind, time for the monthly look at the myriad mock drafts out there and who they prognosticate for the Utah Jazz. Remember that several of these are not taking team needs into account just yet.

ESPN’s Draft coverage

NBA Draft guru Chad Ford has not issued an update from his Mock Draft 3.0 (Insider), which had the Jazz selecting forward Aaron Gordon at #7 and guard Mario Hezonja at #23. While waiting for 4.0, there are a number of great things on ESPN’s site. The NBA Mock Lottery grants the Jazz 11.9 percent chance of winning. There are also Ford’s Big Board and Top 100, which has guard Dante Exum at #4

This mock was quite a stretch. It has the Jazz opting for guard Kyle Anderson at #5. That is about 10 slots higher than most predictions. While Anderson is a very solid player thanks to his size and ball-handling abilities, this does not make this much sense. In this scenario, Exum, Noah Vonleh, Randle and Aaron Gordon are all still on the board. It also has guard James Young from Kentucky at #23 and Deonte Durton at #35. Hoopshype has a little more in-depth analysis on the same mock draft.

This is a 3-for-1 for basketball fans, with Matt Moore, Zach Harper and Gary Parrish all offering their best guesses for the Draft. Parrish has the Jazz going with Vonleh at #5 (over Exum and Gordon) and Sam Dekker at #23–both intriguing prospects. Harper went with Randle and shooting guard Jordan Adams. Last but not least, Moore picked Vonleh and point forward Dario Saric. Some reports have Saric bowing out of the Draft, but nothing firm yet. Even if he does not come over right away, he could be a steal that low in the game, especially if he is truly Lottery talent.

Be forewarned, this is a slide show. Sean Deveney lays down his thoughts, saying he could see the Jazz nabbing Exum at #4 and Cleanthony Early at #23. Exum would be an exciting player capable of playing both guard positions. It would be an interesting dynamic alongside Burke (in his chat today, Chad Ford said that Exum very much wants to play point guard in the NBA and that he might be leery of working out for teams with young PGs in place). Besides having a stellar name, Early has been rising in many mocks thanks to his recent play.

This is a mock that a lot of Utah fans could get behind. This has center Joel Embiid “slipping” to #4. His recent injuries are a definite concern, but he is teeming with potential. They they have forwards K.J. McDaniel at #23 and Chris Walker at #34.

As the season winds down–and especially after the NBA Draft Lottery in May–look for these updates more frequently, especially as the various sites start taking into account workouts, rumors, insights and the like. It will be interesting to watch.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

It’s that time again…our monthly look at the various NBA mock drafts out there. First off, there are still 26 games on the docket, so let’s enjoy them. That said, it is absolutely okay to keep an eye on the draft. After all, the 2014 Draft could profoundly affect the short and long-term status of the franchise.

As things currently stand (and the standings at the bottom of the league ebb and flow nightly), the Utah Jazz are in line for picks #7, #23 and #37. The #7 slot has a 4.3 percent chance of moving up to the top pick. The bottom trio of the Milwaukee Bucks, the Philadelphia Sixers and Orlando Magic may be too far “ahead” of the Jazz, but the others–Los Angeles Lakers, the Sacramento Kings and the Boston Celtics are all within striking distance. The New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers are also in the same realm.

The Golden State pick will either be in the low 20s or, should the Dubs fall outside of the West’s top eight, be pick #14. They are just 0.5 game up on the #7 Dallas Mavericks, 1.5 on the #8 Phoenix Suns and 3.0 gms up on the #9 Memphis Grizzlies, who have been one of the West’s most consistent teams the past several weeks. Anything can happen.

ESPN.com’s Mock Drafts (updated 02.02 and 02.12)

The maestro of mocks, Chad Ford, has not updated his Mock Draft 2.0 (Insider) substantially since our last visit. As a reminder, it had the Utah Jazz taking forward Julius Randle at #5 and guard Semaj Christon with the Golden State pick at #23. Ford has the Jazz at #6 in his weekly Tank Rank. When playing the Lottery Mock Draft, the most common player coming up–when Utah stays at #7–is point guard Tyler Ennis. He is an intriguing prospect but, unlike Dante Exum, does not have the size to play shooting guard. With Trey Burke on board, that would not make much sense.

Jeff Goodman came out with his Mock Draft 1.0 a few weeks ago (another Insider offering). Exum was the Jazz’s pick at #5, while #21 saw them take 18-year old small forward Mario Hezonja out of Croatia, citing his “tremendous skill and potential” as an “insurance policy” in case Gordon Hayward is elsewhere (which I highly doubt).

Freshly revised, Givony has the Jazz going with big man Noah Vonleh at #7, swingman Sam Dekker at #23 and small forward Glenn Robinson at #37. This would be an intriguing assortment of additions to the young core. Should the Jazz miss out on top prospects like Joel Embiid, Jabari Parker, Andrew Wiggins and Exum, Vonleh might be a very good option. Dekker and Robinson would add some shooting. This mock does not account for team needs yet.

This iteration has Exum falling to the Jazz at #7. That would be rather shocking, but the Jazz would not be complaining. #23 would be guard Vasilje Micic from Serbia and #37, small forward CJ Fair of Syracuse. Micic would be curious, especially if the Jazz had Burke, Alec Burks, Exum and possibly Raul Neto on roster.

This site lists Marcus Smart at #6 to Utah, followed by forward Chris Walker of Florida at #23. Given his controversy, one wonders if the Jazz would stay away from the mercurial Smart. He certainly has a lot of talent, though his suspect outside jumper might cause some to hesitate.

No updates here. In the current slots, Gary Parrish would have Utah selecting Exum and Andrew Harrison, while Zach Harper goes with Aaron Gordon and Adreian Payne.

There you have it. Again, a lot will happen between now and the end of the season. The Draft Lottery will occur in May and then the real action can begin.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Throughout the next six months, look for periodic updates so you can see all the mocks in one location–perhaps once a month through the rest of the season and then more frequently after the NBA Draft Lottery transpires on 05.20 and leading up to NBA Draft on 06.26.

Again, Chad Ford is one of the premier NBA Draft gurus out there (plus, he was kind enough to sit down for an interview with me three years ago during the lockout). In this iteration, Ford has the Jazz nabbing power forward Julius Randle from Kentucky at the #5 slot and with the Golden State pick, 6’3″ combo guard Semaj Christon from Xavier at #23. Ford says that “Jazz fans will be hurting if [Jabari] Parker is off the board…but Randle isn’t a bad consolation prize.” Randle is a double-double waiting to happen, but would be interesting should the Jazz front court still consist of Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter and Rudy Gobert. He is a potent scorer with some concerns about his defensive effort. Christon, he says, would be selected to shore up the bench thanks to “his elite athletic abilities with a scoring touch.”

This site is one of the best in the business. It should be noted that team needs have not been taken into consideration here. Givony has Utah going with forward Jabari Parker at #3, shooting guard P.J. Hairston at #24 and Trey Burke’s former Michigan teammate Mitch McGary at #34. This would be many Jazz fans’ ideal situation–bringing the versatile and ready-to-contribute Parker to the Jazz. He can play multiple positions, is a team player and has a sense of leadership about him.

The high second rounder is something that is understandably getting lost in the Draft hype. It is a very valuable pick, as a team can often get a bubble first-round guy without being tied down to a rookie contract. Keep your eyes on this, either as another player for the Jazz or as an asset in a trade.

This too is a site that does not account for team needs until the Draft is closer. This version has Andrew Wigginscoming to the Jazz at #3, guard Markel Brown of Oklahoma State at #25 and Swiss big man Clint Capela at #34. Wiggins would be another excellent fit in Utah, given his athleticism and defensive prowess and potential.

Parrish and Harper offer a two-fer. While they do not lists the teams next to the picks, Parrish has guard Marcus Smart at #5 and Andrew Harrison at #23. Harper has Australian guard Dante Exum and power forward Adreian Payne at those slots. Given Trey Burke’s impressive rookie campaign, it would be interesting if the Jazz opted for either Smart or Exum. They both have good size to play alongside Burke.

This is an outdated mock . It has Parker coming to Salt Lake City at #2 and the recently injured shooter Spencer Dinwiddie at #22.

Obviously the various sites have the Jazz picking at different positions given the timing of their respective updates. There are naturally a lot of variables given that there is half a season to be played and the trade deadline less than four weeks away. Given Utah’s current situation, the draft will be a huge story line going forward.

You know that friend who hypes up a burger from a joint that you’ve never been to? After weeks and weeks of buildup, you...Read More

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.